ORLANDO, Fla. — Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has been talking daily with Ben Roethlisberger and he said he expects the embattled quarterback to take part in offseason practices.

Tomlin did acknowledge this morning that he spoke with Roethlisberger not long after the latter was questioned by police on March 5 in Milledgeville, Ga., after a 20-year-old college student accused him of sexual assault.

"The sun wasn't up but it wouldn't technically be the middle of the night," Tomlin said of when Roethlisberger first called him.

Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual assault twice since last July, and he could be subject to discipline for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday at the NFL owners meetings that he plans to meet with Roethlisberger "at the appropriate time."

"He's well within his rights of meeting with him and I share his concerns," Tomlin said this morning at a breakfast for AFC head coaches.

Tomlin has met with Roethlisberger since the night of bar-hopping that could result in criminal charges. Authorities in Georgia are investigating the March 5 incident, and Roethlisberger's attorneys say he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

Roethlisberger has kept a low profile since the incident, which has turned into a national story. Tomlin said Roethlisberger has not taken part in the voluntary workouts that started on March 15 because established veterans aren't scheduled to report for them until Monday.

Tomlin said he doesn't know if Roethlisberger will resume working out at the Steelers practice facility next week. He did say that Roethlisberger is so competitive that it is "not in his DNA" to skip all of the Steelers' voluntary workouts and practices during the offseason.

Tomlin acknowledged that Roethlisberger's predicament is particularly embarrassing to the Steelers since they hold themselves to high standards both on and off the field.

"I think it's well known that we're very, very conscious of how we do business that we're very concerned about how we do business, perception, how we conduct ourselves, our standards of conduct," Tomlin said. "I think it's above and beyond that of our peers and we embrace that."

The specter of a suspension looms over Roethlisberger and the Steelers. But Tomlin, reiterating the stance Steelers president Art Rooney II took last week, said it is too early to consider contingency plans at quarterback.

"If we have to we will," Tomlin said, "but I don't think it's gotten to that point yet where we need to make those hard and fast decisions. I hope we don't make it to that."

Aside from Roethlisberger, third-year man Dennis Dixon is the only other quarterback on the Steelers' roster. The team is expected to re-sign 13th-year veteran Charlie Batch. Director of football operations Kevin Colbert said Sunday that the Steelers won't take a quarterback early in next month's draft.

Roethlisberger, who turned 28 at the beginning of March, has started since his rookie season in 2004. He has won a pair of Super Bowls and already holds a number of Steelers records.

But he has also shown a pattern of poor decision-making off the field, and Goodell said Monday that "we are concerned that Ben continues to put himself in this position."

When asked about what kind of player and person Roethlisberger is, Tomlin said "He's a ridiculous competitor, a good guy, a guy that wants to win, a guy that doesn't mind toting he burden that comes with being the burden of our football team. Really what you see is what you get from my perspective."

He should be there and participating when he is supposed to for sure. Maybe they wont have any women there and a backroom for him to have his friends shuttle them into. How can a man of his statue need his friends to do that anyways?.. I just think he thinks he is higher and mightier than anyone else... I hate to say that cuz I love what he has done for our Steelers, but the truth is the truth.

__________________I Just Want Steelers Football . .
Time For DeMaurice Smith to Resign

He should be there and participating when he is supposed to for sure. Maybe they wont have any women there and a backroom for him to have his friends shuttle them into. How can a man of his statue need his friends to do that anyways?.. I just think he thinks he is higher and mightier than anyone else... I hate to say that cuz I love what he has done for our Steelers, but the truth is the truth.

Ditto. Those are exactly my thoughts as well. He needs to grow up and change
for the better. Practice will keep him out of trouble (I Hope).

"I think it's well known that we're very, very conscious of how we do business that we're very concerned about how we do business, perception, how we conduct ourselves, our standards of conduct," Tomlin said. "I think it's above and beyond that of our peers and we embrace that."

i am still suprised that tomlin has critics. this is one of his best traits.

i love how he doesnt shy away from elevating the steelers and his position above all others in the league. that takes balls.... BIG BALLS. *cue AC/DC*

tomlin wants to be the best. and ben says he wants to be the 1st qb to win 5 sb's. now is the time to put in the work and make that happen. catching AIDS or smashing his face on a windshield isnt the way to do that.